Saleen S5S Raptor concept

Coinciding with the launch of its new SMS Limited brand, sports car manufacturer Saleen has unveiled a new supercar concept at today’s New York Auto Show that boasts a 650hp V8 engine running on ethanol. Already being touted as the successor to the current S7 flagship, the new car is still in the design phase and will only go into production if it receives enough interest from show goers.

The concept carries the name S5S Raptor and it features a mid-mounted supercharged 5.0L V8 engine that can burn either petrol or 85% ethanol blended fuels. Other features include a lightweight aluminum chassis and composite body and a six-speed manual transmission sending drive to the rear wheels. The sprint to 60mph should take a little over three seconds and top speed is an estimated 200mph.

As this image reveals, the new concept is just as aggressive as the current mid-engined S7 supercar but it will be priced much lower than the $600,000 flagship if it were to enter production. If given the green light, Saleen claims the car could be in showrooms within two years with a price tag of $185,000.